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W."lSTATE OF NEVADA
DEPARTMENT OF CONSERVATION AND NATURAL RESOURCES
Carson City
View of Washoe Valley looking northwest toward Slide 'Mountain.
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WATER RESOURCES-RECONNAISSANCE SERIES
REPORT 41
WATER-RESOURCES APPRAISAL OF WASHOE VALLEY, NEVADA
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NOT ~~Me.c'toJe~"'~~ lhtf J S O~ Fie E
Geologicol Survey, U,S. Deportment of the Interior
APRil 1967
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\;fATEr, RESOURCES - RECONNAISSANCE SERIES
Report 41
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HATER-RESOURCES APPRAISAL OF WASHOE VALLEY, NEVADA
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By
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F'. Eugene Rush
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Prepared cooperatively by the
Geological Survey, U. S. Department of the Intc1'l.or
AprU
1967
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CONTENTS
Page
Swmnary •••
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Introduction
Purpose and scope· of the study
Location and general features.
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Hydrologic environment.
Landforms. • • , •
Geologic units and structural features
Histo'"ical sketch.
Climate • • • • •
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Valley-fill reservoir
Extent and boundaries.
Transmissibili ty and storage coefficients.
Ground water in storage.
Surface water in storage •
Ground-water flow •••.••
The equilibrium condition.
,.
Inflow to the valley"
Precipitation. •
Ground-water recharge.
RU!1off, by D. O. Moore and J. E. Parkes.
Importation of water .
Underflow. • • • .
Outflow from the valley
Surf,9.c8 water" " ,
Evaporation from lakes.
O~tflow from the valley
Diversions for irrigation
Diversions from lakes.
Diversions from creeks
Water export. •
Ground water , " • .Evapotranspiration.
Irrigation by wells
Domestic and stock pumpage.
Sp~:i.ngs
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Subsurface outflow
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ilater budget for the valley-fill reservoir.
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Chemical quality of water .
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System yield.
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Future supply
StreamflOl,
PumpinB from well s
The lakes.
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Well recorda.
Location numbering system.
Selected data.
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List of previously published reports in this series
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Referenc.es cited ••
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ILLUSTRATIONS
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Plate 1..
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Genc'ralized bydrogeologi c map.
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Bac!, of
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Hap of Nevada showing area described in this report
and others in previous reports of the Water
Resources - Reconnaissance series
Follows
2.
Map shmang depth to eround Ml,ter
FolloW's
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3.
Graph showing water-surface alti,tude and
volume of viasht)e and Little Washt)e Lakes.
. . . • . Follows
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Generalized water-level map of the valley-fill
reservoir ..
. . . • • FolloW's
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Graph shC1ving average monthly prec:lpitation at
Marlette Lake, Carson City, and Virginia City.
Follows
12
Graph showing relation of altitude to precipitation
FolloW's
Land status map • • . . .
Follows
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Ground'-w-ater hardness map
Follows
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Mc"l.p showing distribution of specific ground water
ct)nductanee
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Report
Figure 10
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TABLES
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Table 1.
Geologic units in Washoe Valley.
2.
Length. of gro,ling seaSon bet'lleen killing frosts.
3.
Estimated average annual precipitation and potential
annual ground-water recharge •
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4 •. Streamflow measurements, 1964.
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5.
17
6. Estimated average annual evapotranspiration of
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Estimated. average annual runoff.
ground water. .,. ..
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Water budget for 1965 conditions
s.
Field chemical analyses, in parts per million (upper
line) and equivalents per million, (lower line) of
water from selected sourCes. • , • • • • • , •
2)~
folloHing
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v. (
Spec",fic conductance of selected surface-water
samples.
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10.
Data of selected wells
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11.
Drillers' logs of. select·ed wells
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WATER-RESOURCES APPRAISAL OF WASHOE VALLEY, NEVADA
by F" Eugene Ru,eh
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SUMMItRY
Washoe Valley is an 84-'square mile basin in western Nevada between Reno and
Carson City" About 270,000 acre-feet of ground water is stored in the upper 100
feet of saturateci valley filL On the avera!:;e, an additional 20,000 acre-feet of
water is stored in Washoe and Little Washoe Lakes, which cover much of the valley
floor, The total estimated averaGe annual inflow to the basin is 33,000 acre-feet,
of which 23,000 acre-feet is by runoff, principally from the hieh-predpitation
areas of the Carson Range of the Sierra Nevada" The other sources of inflow are
precipitation directly on the lake areas, surface.. ·water importation to the basin,
and subaurfa"e inflow across the consolidated rock-valley-fill contact .
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The estimated averaGe annual outflow frlOm the basin is 31,000 acre-feeL
The evaporation from i'iashoe and Little Washoe Lakes is estimated to account for
about 14,000 acre-feet of this total. IrrigatilOn from surface-,mter SOUrCes ClOnSUmes nearly 6,000 acre,,"feet per year and ground-water losses by phreatophytes are
nearly' 9,000 acre,-feet per year. About 600 acre·-feet of surface walcrwas e:x:rlOrted
in 1965 for use in public-supply systems at Virginia City and Carson Ci.ty
The
estimated net pumpage from irrigation, stock, and domesti.c wells "".s 1,000 acre-feet
in th,.,t ;:ear" Fi,dd anal;rses of Hater sflITlples indi.cate that the water in the vn.lley
,i.s !,::>~,fl(,;ri.11Jy 6td.l,·:,.tle for irrigaticn, JOnl6stic, and st.oc1( u~~es~ Ground w'a.ter .is
hard on the 8s.st side of the valley and for the most part soft to moderately hard on
t.l:.e" west. side.
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The o"ield of the system is estimated to range bet'dcen 15,000 and 25,000 aCrefeet per Y6S,):', depending on how the watel" resources are developed." Although t.he
GccnlOtr(l! of the valley is principally ranching, res;. . ciential cieveloplllent is increasinG
rapidly as the c;eneral population lOf the Reno-Carson Cit.y rogion gl'ows, Therefore,
it is .important that. scientific water man:J.gement. be practj,ceci; bocause there is a
st.rong interrelation betl~&en surface and ground '<fater of the va.lley, the cievel.op'nent
of eHher wHl strongly affect the lOther',
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INTRODUCTION
Purpose and Scope of the Study
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Ground-water development in Nevada has sho.wn a substantial increase in recent
years" Part of this increase is due to the effort· to bring neW.land into cultivation and part to an increase in population. The.increasing interest in ground-water development has created a substantial demand for.infonnation on'ground-water
resources throughout the State. Recognizing. this need, the State LeGislature enacted special legislation (Chap. 181, Stats, 1960):for beginning a series of reconnaissance :::' )dies of. the ground-water resources of Nevada. Subsequently, the studies
were broad~ed to include pertinent streamflow and ",ater-quality data. These studies
are being made by the U" S. Geological Survey in cooperation with'. the Nevada Department of Conservation and Natural Resources. This is the, .forty-first report, prepared
as part of the reconnaissance series (fig. 1) ..
Objectives of this report are to (1) appraise the source, occurrence, movement,
storage, and chemical quality of water in the area, (2) estimate average annual recharge to and discharGe from the ground-water reservoir, (3) provides' preliminary
estimate of the system yield, and (4) evaluate present and potential water development
in the area. The system yield of the valley loras .. determined for' the present conditions
of developmento
Field work for this study required about 10 man..,days .in the fall of . 1965 and the
spring of 1966,
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NEVADA
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EXPLANATION
AreBS described in previous
repoft$ of lhr~ W<'!ter Resources
Reconnaissance Series
Area described in this report
0iiiiiii;;;i2~5;;;;;;;;~5ii;0iiii...7,,5:::;;;;;::',,00 Mil e s
Figure 1.-Area. described in this report and others in previous reports of the Water ResDurc:es-Reconnais!lqn<:e Series
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Location and General Jieatures
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W(>shoe 1h116Y is in we~tern Nevada (fig. 1), between the adjacent communities
of Reno and Carson Gity, and is a small, well watered area. The large runol"f from
the Sierra Nevada is carried by several creeks which extend from '~he mountains and
flow across the flat valley floor. Some runoff is diverted <and utilized for irrigation of cropland, the remair,der flows to Washoe and Little Washoe Lakes, which
occupy much of the valley floor. During high lake stages, water from the lakes
drains northward from the valley in Steamboat Creek through a narrow canyon "ut
deeply into consolidated ro<oks. Steamboat Creek discharges into the Truckee River
east of Reno (fig .. 1).
Other principal streams in the area are Ophir and Franktown Creeks"
streams i.nclude ~'linters, Musgrove, and Big Canyon ..Creeksv
Smaller
The basin is roughly triangular (pIo 1) and occupies Bi. square miles" Princi.pal
access .is by U" S" Highway 395, which extends through the valley and connects Reno,
14 miles north, and Carson City 4 miles south. State Highway 27 extends westward
from U" S" Hi.gh;ray 395, crossing the Carson Range of the Sierra Nevada in the northwest corner of the basin, to the Lake Tahoe basin at Incline Village (not shown on
pI" 1)" A paved road extends along the east side .of the. valley and provides access
to the growing residential area of New ',{"shoe City, northeast of Washoe L:,ke.
The e.conomy of the valley is basically ranching with much of the valley floor
not occupied by lake used for hay and pasture, but residential development is eXft
panding in thr"8 major areas; at the northern end of the valley CWashoe Gi ty),
norti18a~t. of Washo,', Lake (N,'w Washoe City), and at the southern end of the valle>y near
Lakeview SummiL The estimated population in 1966 was about 1.,000.
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HYDROLOGIC ENVIRONHENT
Landforms
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I'lashoe Valley is a structural depression along the western margin of the Great
Basin section of the Basin and Range physiographic province (r'enneman, 1931), The
valley .is bounded by two mountain ranl:;es, .the tree-covered Carson Range of the
Sierra Nevada on the west and the sage-covered Virginia Range on the east. Within
the dn,j,nage area the Carson Range crests at an altitude of about 9,000 feet; the
Virginia Range generally reaches an altitude of from 6,000 to 7,500 feet. Low spurs
from the hID ranges join a.t Lakeview Summit but at the north end of the valloy,
Steamboa.t Creek separates the two ranges. The altitude of Lakeview Summit is 5,163
feet and that of Washoe Hill, about 3/4 of a mile east of SteambOat Creek, is about
5,100 feet.
The valley floor is broad and flat (altitude, 5,019 to 5,200 feet) and abruptly
joins the foot of the Garson Range on the west. As previously mentioned, nearly a
fourth of the vallGy floor i,s occupied by Washoe and Little Washoe Lakes which at
rnedium- to low-,later levels are separated by a swampy area, but at high W'dter stages
fonn a single body of water. The outlet from Little Washoe Lake t() Steamboat Creek
is several feet above the bed (bottom) of Washoe Lake, which prevents the lakes from
being entirely drained by the creek. On the east side of the valley, the valley
floor and mountains are separated by a poorly developed alluvial apron or intermediate
slope which is narrow where present, usually less than a quarter-mile wide. On the
east side of the valley, the valley floor has a slope of about 80 feet per mile, the
alluvial apron about 300 feet per mile.
G0010gic Units and :3trllctural Features
The principal geologic units in Ifashoe Valley are shol'm on plate 1 and are
described in table 1. The description of the general character and el-ctent of the
units is based principally on the geologic maps of Thompson and Ivhite (1964), Moore
(1961), and Thompson (1956). A lilajor modification is made in the classification a.nd
extent of younCer and older alluvium, which form the principal grQund-water reservoir
in the valley.
Faults that form geolOGic unit boundaries or occur in the alluvium are shown
on plate 1. These structural features may effect the flow of ground water. Two
faults cut the alluvium, one in the southwest part of the valley near the west shore
of ~"ashoe Lake, the other near '''ashoe Ci.ty at the north end of the valley. The e5-'
carpment formed by the fault in the southl,rest part of the valley has /; maximwll height
of about 30 feet a quarter-mile north of where it crosses U. S. Highway 395. The
sscarpmcnt of the other fault is about 20 feet high. Older alluvium is exposed on
the upthrown side of each fault.
Historical Sketch
The first settler in \vashoe Valley built a cabin at Franktown (site vIaS in Nvlt
sec. 10, T. 16 N., R. 19 E.) in 1852. During the following decade many more settl~rs
came to the valley. In 1861 Washoe City (pI. 1) was founded, Ophil' Mill was built
(SWt, sec. 35, T. 17 N., R. 19 E.), and Dall ~lill was built at Franktown to .process
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Table l,--Geologic units in Washoe Valley
Geologic
age
--~-ThickGeologic
ness
ulti.,-_
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t,bt::,l
R~~~nt
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I ann
__ 'lide
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0-200!
deposits
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Glacial
deposits
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8
Pleistocene
silt comprJ.slng stream, lake, anu
deposits and sand dunes along
and stock wel1se
Yields are small
STdEflTIP
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Water-bearing properties
+ ___._________________
Washoe Lak_e____
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G't-ner~l cha.r..acter and extent
. _.________..___ J~~l_e_eas tern s~~o_r_e_.of
P leis tocene ''';
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'of
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.
Unconsolidated boulders" gravel, and
sand; largely morainal depo"its on
hieh mountain slopes west and north
of S1 ide Moun taIn in the Carson
Range
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Older
alluvium
Unconsolidated depos i ts of gr ani tic
rub b Ie and sand sou theas t of S li,ie
Mountain in the Ophir Creek area of
the. Carson Range
Semiconsolidated to unconsolidated
lens,!s of gravel, sand, and silt
exposed principally in the northO-SOO!
eastern part of the valley and buried
at shallow depth beneath younger
alluvium. In the southwestern part
i of the valley, it is chiefly dis integrated granitic debris
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No t tapped by wells. Probably would
yield small amounts of wate r to wells
where saturated
May be tapped by a few wells of ski
lodges, 'probably would yield small
to moderate amounts of water to wells
where saturated
Most wells more than 50 feet deep
obtain supply from older allUVium;
yields range from a few'gallons per
minute for small diameter wells to
more than 2,000 gpm in a few largediameter wells
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Table L--Geologic units in Washoe Valley--continued
Thick-
I Geologic
unit
Geologic
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] I Granitic
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rocks
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rocks
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Not tapped by wells. Virtually no
interstitial permeability; Probably
would yield small amounts of water to
wells,where saturated
Hos tly light gray granOdiorite,;
includes small areas of'quartz.
monzonite, aplite, and pegmatite.,
Dominant rock in the Carson Range;
" less abundant in the Virginia Range
Not tapped by wells; supply water to
springs marginal to the valley fill.
Probably would not yield much water to
wells
Mostly argillite, slate, hornfels,
and schists; northeast of Washoe
Not tapped by wells; transmit small
amounts of water along bedding planes
andesl les
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yield small amounts of water to wells
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31 Hetamorphii:i
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Lava flows and intrusions, chiefly
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andesite and basalt. Locally overlie
prillcipolty, granitic rocks in the
Carson and Virginia Ranges
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Water-bearing properties
General character and extent
til
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ness
Volcanic
frOCks
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(feet) ,
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are from Virginia City. 'Washoe City grew rapidly, becoming the county se8.t of
newly-organized Washoe County" A mile-long bridge (eu"t of Ophir Nill site in
sec, 35 and 36, T. 17 N., R. 19 E.) I,as constructed for wagons c>lrr-y'ing ore from
the Ophir Hine on the Comstock to Ophir Nill and lumber on the return trip.
In 1<'362 Sandy and Eilley Bowers built Bowers Nansion, which is now a popular
Washoe County park; their wealth was from mining on the Comstock. By 1865, Washoe
City had three mills and a population ot 2, (lOO. However, by .1869 the cOrnTmmity
was in economic decline; the county seat was moved to neno in 1ll70" In 18T! the
Virginia and 'fruckee Railroad was completed through WU$I1Oe Valley, near tho pr-esent
ali,gnment of U. S. Highway 395,
As Virginia City grew, the local water- supply became ina<1equate. As a result,
work was started in 1872 on a di ver-ston system to carry water from the Carson R?,nge
to the Comstock. 'IIat"r WJ,,, (liverted from Hobart Creek (swk, sec,. 32, T. 16 N., R.
19 E,) thr()ugh a 21--,mile lour; flume un<1 pipeline system. In 1875 the system ,,>IS
extended to the west side of the Cal,"son Range by a 4, OOO-foot tunnel (sec, 25, T"
16 N., R. 18 E. an<1 sBC. 30, To _16 N., R. 19 Eo); I-lob(\rt Heservoir (NEt seC. 5,
T. 15 N", n. 19 E.) was also built. l1ater was diverte<1 from Harlett" Lake (sec. 12,
T, 15 N., ll. 18 E.) by flume to the tunnel and to the re~""rvoir. Another flume, 3
milGS long,was constructed northward from the west en<1 of the tunnel to divert
creeks on the western slope of the range. The third pi.pe '/V'as udded to the fluwe and
pipe line system in 1387" These pipes extended from their inlet in the Nlit;, sec. 3,
T" 15 l-L, R. 19 E., ,~cross Lake View Summit, to their outlet in t,he <M-t sec. 15. T,
16 N., II,. 20 E. The water system ;is still in use and :l5 owm,r:! by th" State ot Hev"du"
The tunnol haa cav~d :i,n 80 the principal diifer~;>ion0 <'lre li.vW ma . . .l.v 1.I'1.,J ••• ~..<.I.,l·..J...';;uGt;: ~.
to HObart lleservoi.r by a pipeline (not shown Oll plate 1). All flumes have long
since been replaced by pi,pelines.
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Climate
The cJ.:I:rnate of Ihshoe Valle~' is cl'laracteriz;ed by long winters with moderev"te
amounts of snm; on the valley floor and larr;" acc-Jlmulations in the mountains. The
summers arc short wi,th 1-lam, daytim" tcmperntures and cool nights. Little precipitation occurs in th", 8mru""r except for occasional thunderstorms,
TempHraturc data have been recorde<1 at four stiJ.tions near i1as:lOe Vnlley;
8rowing-season data are sUllllll1lri:;;ed in tnble 2 for these stati.,ons. The top08raphy
of the a:rea favors the flow 01' heavy cold air toward the 10·wer parts of the va_lIey
(luring perio<1s of little wind movement, minimizing the normal effect of altHn<1e
on temperntuI'e. The highest of these stations, Narlette Lake, and the lowest,
Carson City (fig. 1), hHv" nearly the same averas" length ()f growins season, both
near 140 days for a 2soF hlling fr()st. On the flo()r of \hshoe Valley, the length
of the 28" f' growi,ng season is estirnate<1 to average about 120 <1ny s.
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Table 2 '. ~,:,Leng th of. growing season' between killing fros ts
[Summarized from published records of the U.S. Weather Bureau]
,
Altitude
(feet)
Period of record
(years)
Mount Rose
Highway Station
7,360
1960-62
Carson City
4,675
Marlette Lake.
8,000
Station 1/
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-----d'-dP~·-'- "--- -"~"-l'!:Ln 1mum
re co rei Maximum re cO rded
Average
(days)
(davs
(davs
32°F 28°F 24°F 32°F 28°F 24°F 32°F 28°F 24°F
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63
118
144
120
122
178
92
121
157
1924-64
62
89
141
167
192
223
122
142
177
1931-44,
1949-51
85
90
114
141
172
181
111
137
156
176
152
198
237
135
164
203
.
Virginia City.
6,002
1951-60
102
1.
None of these.stations is in Washoe Valley.
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1VilIJ.EY-FILL RESERVOIR
Extent and Boundaries
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Older and younger alluvium of the valley, as shown on plate 1, form the vall"yfill res6rYoir, whi.eh is the principal soUrCe or ground water in Washoe Valley. The
valley--fill reservoir is ab,>ut 8 miles long, 3 to 5 miles vr.i.de, and underlies an
area of about 18,000 acres. The reservoir in most places probably is at least 500
feet thick. Although bedrock r'eportedly has b"en encountered in wells at shallower
depths, these wells were near the bedrock-alluviulJI contact.
Extern.,l hydraulic boundll-rie.s are fonnGd by the consolidated rocks (table 1
and pL 1) which lwderHe and form the. sides or the valley-fill reservoir. The
lateral boundaries arB leaky to varJ,ing degrees. 'l'he vole.anie. rocks, IJarticul,u'ly
the basalt and scoria in the Virginia Range, may contribute moderate nmounts of the
recharge .from the Virginia Ranr;e to t.he valley-fill reservoir by subsurface flow.
Steamboat Creek, which drRins Little v'tashoe Lake, .flows through a narrow steep--·walled
canyon that is cut to a depth of about 150 feet into volcanic rocks
At creek level,
the car,yon is generally 1e56 than 50 feet wide. Northward leakage throuE;h the vol-·
canic rocks to Pleesant Va.lley probably is minor"
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Recharge boundaries are formed by the live-stream segn,ents of all streams where
they flm< aCrOSS the valley floor t.o Washoe and Little Washoe Lakes and by- the lakes
themselves. Flo" in the streams ll,sually crosses tho valley floor in the winter awl
spring. Mo st streams become dr;y- in tho sllnunor and fall, largely becallse "f diversions
8-long the mountain front..
I
I
The principal internnl hydraulic boundaries nre the fault,s passing northward
on the west cd_de of klaBhoe Lake and at VJashoe City, as shO'wn on plate 1. The extent
to which thee:e barriers ·impede ground-'\1Il-ter flow p.rob9.bl,.' ,rill not be det.ermined
until subst8.r.tial ground·-,vater development 0 ceurs.
Transmiss.ibility Cl..nli_3torag:? CoefficiGnts
I
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I~
I
-'.I
-.'
The coefficient of transrrd.ssibility is a measure of the resistance 1;0 groundwater .tlm" in an aquifer Or reservoir systE',m.. The cOBfficient of storage in a
heterogeneous valley-1ill reservoir is a measure oJ' the amount of do;mward drainage
of water thr(lllgh sedilll<onts as Hater levols aI''' dra,m down by pumpirl.!> When utilized
together in certain types of tn~..tliema.ticJ.l IlIOdels or Gimulated i.n electrical models,
the> two coofficients defin.e the hydraulic diffusiv:ity of the system; or in simpler
terms, c,an be used to describe the distrib"tion Hnd !)Illount of water-level de(;:li'19
that would l'esul t under certain conditions of pumping and bo umlary conditions
0
Two'v:idely separated large-diameter ,,,ell,, hHve specific capacities of 36 a.nd
7.3 gpm per foot (gallons per minute per foot e>f dra\,down), suCg"",ting transmissibilities of 50,000 to l5U,OOO gpd (gallons per day) per foot (Q}Jproximated by (1.5"
of tho Thiem (1906) formula). These wells, l6/19-3cd and 16/20-17ac, are 225 B.nd ;.75
feet deep, respcectively, Other large-diameter w-ells heve been clisapp(linti.ng pro-·
d\1cers, some never bE)ing "tilizedo Many domestic w,lls repor·t"dly have small yields
too (table 10). SOme re3SIlns for the wide ranr;e in w,.,11 yields may b,,: (1) an
equally wide rn.nge in the water-;\,ielding properties of the vall"y fill from one plaCE)
-9-
"'
a
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I
to another, -which could be attributed to the <1i.stribution of disintegr,,,ted granit:i..c
debris; (2) most 'vmter production seems to be derived from SD.nd lenses, "hich re'quh'e special techniques in' well coniotrllction and development to obtain an acceptable
well; and (3) most 'wells are less th8.n 200 feet deep, cuggesting tha.t a considerable
thickness of vall"i fill must be penetrated to oiltain large well yield~.
.,
The coefficierr~ of storage, which over the long term may be nearli! equal to
th" specific yield of the valley fill, is computcd from well lugs to be abuut 0,15,
or about eq1li valent to. a specific :rield of 15 percent. Beds conlpo sing the vall"'y
fill are lentic1lle.ro Silt lenses act ,O<S sernicuni'ining bedso As a result, flom.ng
'wells are obtained over m1lch of the area ",est of \,usho" Luke •. Howevor, under lon;;term p1llllping, aU these cleoosits wo1l1d' drain slowly and artesian head, sufficient
. tu CG.1lSe flow, W01lId gradually be lost.
Gro1lnd Water in c)torage
Recoverablegromlcl water in storage is that part of the water moving throU(;h the
valley",fill reservoir th"t will dnin by gravity in response to p1lmpingo Under native
concij,tions the amount of stored gro1lnd >later rem,o<ins nearly constant. Th" 10nK-·tcrm
balance bet""en recharge and dis~harg", which controls changes of grolmd water in
storage, probably has been disturbed only slightly by the diversions of surface and
ground "ate]:',
Recoverable ground water in storaGB is the product of -the specific yield, the
area of the ero1lnd'-''Iater reservoir, and the selected saturated thickness of the
alluviu"," ;.:;jJ"cific ,lield of a rock or soil is the ratio :.>1' (-1) the volwne uf wcr~er
whi,c;h the srouml-.mter reservoir ,(ill J'ield by gravIty to (2)' the reservoir volum,};
This ri'ltio is £;t,3ted as a percent.age. In i~ashoe Valley, the average specifie yi.eld
of the alluvi1lm (the ground-·water res8rvoir) probably j,s about 15 percent. The
selected thickness is the uppermost 100 feet of saturated alJuviuw.·
Usinf, the s1lrface area of thO) Yall"J'-fill reservoir, the estimated recoverable
croull(l ·~';a.te:c i.n storage is thG area of abOl.tt 18 J OOO acres times the selected depth
of 100 feet times the drainable volume of 15 percent, which i.5 about 270, ocio acrefeet:, :FigurB 2 shows thD.t nea!'ly all this ~{atcr is D,vailr.ible Tor development at
shalla" depths, especially on the "est dele or v/ashoe Lake.
i,oJater stored in WaGhoe arld L.i.ttle l-iashoe Lakes ccl.n be considered re lccted
ground-water recharge and impounded runoff fnw, flush fleods. If the v(:lley fill
;1"re not f(11), or nearly fully saturt,t,Yl, much of the Wllt.,r
the .lak,,'l and streamD
would infiltrate,
,
0
in
The ;).ren t:.nd volwnG of ti10 two In},es fluctuate, dependi.il.g to Fi gl"eo.t ex.tent on
In tbe spring of 1':166, follml-'
ing several y'caT's ,of ab\.)ve-average preci!Jitation~ the llk'ly.:imurn lake '5i,z(~ of about
5,600 ,'l.Cl'eswas reached, This supposedJ.y is the rr,aximum area that vlould be expected
under n.'lti'J,,, cDnditions, b8cause a s,",,,ll dam on Steamboat Creek at the north end
the valley (pl. 1.) is c1esigne(l not to rais\J the ri'~ax:imum lake-storage levelA The'
the ,,-mount of precipitation and runoff in the basin.
of
-10-
I
R, 20 t.
R. 19 E.
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I
T.
17
N.
•11·
-
I!'/"
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T,
IG
N.
I
EXF'LANA'fION
Consolidated rocks
I
Uncollsolldated
deposita
Geologic !;ont;:,d
o
I
Figure
I
~.-Generalized
depth to gr.ound-water, October 1965
Zon~s
between lines are
w~ter in h~d
de-plh to
EI<'ISGd on dat;:, liskd
In table 10
Sharellne fllr
average lake alze
2 Miles
I·
te,,,
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I,
I
spill,,-.,.y of the dam is at an altitude of 5,029 feet. The bottom of
channel
of o;t"amboat. OrGel< just above the dam is at an alU.tu.de of about ),022 feet,
Outflow is regula.ted througJl openinCs in the de"'!! bela" the spillway, Under existing conditions, the lakes at theiJ:> maxl.mUtn· size as. controlled by a s,)i.llw,,,-y altitude
of 5,029 feet, have a combined volume (,f about 35,000 acre-feet, as shown in figure
3 and. a maximun, depth of about 11 feet. Plate 1 shows the lakes atmaximunl size
and as a single body of \<f"dter because the swamp -,;hich sepurates the lakes into tvo'O
bodies of water at lower stageo is submerGed. '1'he dashed line sho,tls the approximate
average extent of the lakes.
Local le~idents report that both l'iaGhoe and Little Wa.shoe Lakes were dry in
1932 and 193/., and remainGd ve,"' SIndl until 1938. Other low lake levels probably
occurr·Gd in 1915, 1950, a.nd 1961, following droUGhts. Ifushoe and Little IJastwe
Lakes in 1950 co',ered about 3,400 and 70 acres, respectively. TakinG; into consider-·
ation 'irrigation withdrawals, the; aye;raGe size of -,"asho~ Luke j.B est.imated to be
about 1,,000 ,,"cres with a volume of about 20,000 Rcre-feet; and for Little Washoe
Lake, un ar-ea of about 100 acres Rnd a volume of about 400 aere-feet.
Figure 3 shows recorded water-surface altitudes and the npp.t'o];;Jmate CJ.mc,)unt of
storr;d 1·IO.ter in 'lashoc and Little IfGshoe Lakes for the period 1963-66. During 1965
and "ar.l;y 1966, the ws.ter-surface altitudes of Washoe and Littl" Washoe: Lakes were
nearly t.he srune, becB.use the irrt'crvening SW8.lnp was inundated. Dur:illg 1963 and 1964
the lakes Here lower and more isolated hydrologically. Effects of regulated outflow
to Stea;;lbout Or-eelt arc indicated in the late summer by the rapid and more extensive
low,ring of Little \iushoe Lake than \iashoe Lake.
During the short period of record aho"n on fi.gure 3, the volume of stored
water i,n the lakes hac J:>anged from about 7,000 acre-feet in November 1961, to about
35,0(;0 ;Jcre-·feet i.n J"muary nnd Pebruary 1966.
I
I
·1
Ground-Water FloH
Ground~Wf:iter
flow in the v,~lley~fj.ll reservoir is from the at'Bas of recharge
tOHtlrd nreas of discha.rgc. The configuration at the ground-water surface 5.s shNm
by t."" watcor·-18yel contours on fi.gure 4. Direction of 1'1011 is at riGht. angles to
the ccntout's and from higher to 10l1er leyols.
'l'hewater-·level contours show that ground water is moving generally alray from
th" f()ot of ·the Carson f.nd Virgj.ni.a Hanges, "here stJ:>euas lose wnter by infiltrat.ion
to the valley--fi.l1 res"JI"voir, toward :~a.shoe Lake. The steep Gradients, 1).S indicated
locally by cl(lse spac:Lnc of contours on the. ';(Iu.thwes't side of the vnlley-, probably
are caused b;; a combination of moderately 18_rge recharge and low translllissibi.lity.
Sevf3T"nl irriG8,tion 'wells in this area. have 10\/ yields and la.rge d,'rawdownso
The Equilibriwll Condition
-o-/ateJ:>-·level contours in figure 3 presumably have c.hanGed little from natm'a1
condi tions us a r'eBult of man IS acti vi ties in Hashoe Valley. Nan has di veJ:>ted the
flow principally from Fl'anktown and Ophir Creeks for irrigution and Hobart Creek for
pUblic-supply Hater. Sp.reading water on thO) fields has resulted lo"allJ' in Glight1y
hi.geler heads. in the reservoir system than originally 8,dsted. On the other hrllld,
pumping has been small and probabJ.y has depl"ted the system only sUghtly. Accord"ingl~,.., the valley-fill reservoir is ..cunctionine under ncar natural conditions, and
the ,,yetoln OVer the long term is in 3. near equj,libril1l'l condition,
-11-
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~.;
...
'w"
>
-'
«
w
on
avel'~ge
altitude 5,027 feet
Spillway crest
Estimated average volume 20,000 acra fest -
25,000
'"
...
w
W
,
""
,
......
I
-
-----
'"
...0
(fJ
10,000 w
I
,
.......
"
,
I
w
«
'...J"
w
0
I
on
'"0 5«
:J
-'
I
5,000
- - Washoe Lako
>
W
---~-....:....-.+--
limit of outflow In Steamboat Creek
@ <Ii
10,000 0f\
,,
I;:;
20,000
\
,,
«
'"
~ «
3:~
,,
,
>
"-
""'w5
30,000 w
Estimated i!J.verage area 4,100 acres
0
~
30,000
_1_ -£,,..-2>=,,,
w
f-
I
~
«
w
n
I
I
I
I
I
Estimated
-
z
:J
I
fw
uJ
w
-'
I-
t::
« n....
X z
0 «
I-
- - - little Washoe Laka
1,000
!:J
«
'"
'"
w
"- I0
"-
w
«
'"
0
-'
on
« «
5
1Q66
Figure 3.-Water-surface altitude· and volume of Washoe and Little Washoe Lakes
I
R. 20 E.
R. 1D E.
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I
'r.
'7
N.
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I
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I.
I
I
I
"
T.
,6
N.
EX~LANATION
__
Consolidated rocks
U nco nsolld E1ted
d~pug;lt8
waler-Ievel contour in f€ll::lt
~blJvl~ nle1:ln !lea level
Geologic contact
o
Figure 4.-GSrieralized water-level of the valley-fill reservoir, October 1965
I
5040~_
Shoreline for
average lake size
2 Miles;
INFLOvl TO THE VALLEY-FILL llliSERVOIR
Inflow to the valley-fill reservoir is estimated by reconnasissance techniques dev"loped by the Geological Survey in cooperat1on wi.th the Nevada Department. of Conservation and Natural Resources. The components of inflow' are
summar1zed in table 7, which shows that the estillk~ted total average annual inflow
is 33,000 acre-feet.
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I,'
Precipitation
Precipitation falling as rain Or snow is t.he pri,nci.pal source of water
entering the hydrologic system of Washoe Valley. Air masses moving into the
area from the west generally 10's8 much of their moi$ture in the Sierra Nevada.
As a result the Carson Range of the Sierra Nevada is humid and 'the floor of Washoe'
Valley and the Virginia Range, being in t.he rain shadol1 of the Sierra Nevada, are
aubarid to arid. Most precipitation falls in the winter a,nd early spring as sno ...
The largest amounts fall at the higher altitudes. During late spring and summer
precipitation is light at all altitudes and usually is in the form of rain during
thundershowers. (fig. 5).
'
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I.
:,1
-It:
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I
The preciritation pattern in Nevada is related pri.ncipally to topography
(Hardman, 1936). . StaU,ons at the highest altitudes generally receive more precipitation than those at lower altitudes. However" as shown in figure 6, this
general relation may be considerably modified by local conditions. Virginia City
is assumed to receive less precipitation than tYJlical for its altitude and location
because of the rain shadow caused by Mt. Davidson which rises on the west side of
the comnruni ty •
On table 3 precipitation is summarized by altitUde zones for the Carson
Range, Virginia Range, and the floor of Washoe Valley. The estimates are based
on the curves shown in figure 6. The estimated average annual precipitation on
the drainage basin is 87,000 acre-feet.
Precipitation that falls onto Washoe and Little Washoe Lakes is a direct
contribution to surface-water storage. The estimated average annual precipitation
on the lakes is about one foot. As determined earlier, the estimated average 'lake
area is about 4,000 acres. Therefore, t.he, direct contribution to the lake by precipitation averages about 4,000 acre-feet per year,
~j"
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',',
;.:,
,r.
.
~12-
,
"I"·
,
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Matlette lake
(Altitude 8,000 f ••t)
5
4
[3
I
U
z
I
ft·
I
z
z
0
I-
«:
l-
n:
U
w
'"
"-
Carson City
~titude 4675 fe-eo!)
.~
I
_...---,
I
I
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I
I
r
I
,,
Virginia City
,
~.
(Altitude fl,002 fest) .... - -
-
-
JAN.
APR.
o
MAR.
MAY
JUN.
JUL.
AUG.
SEPT.
OCT.
NOV.
Figure 5.-Average monthly precipitation at Marlette l-ijke, Cijr1'lon City, and Virginia City
DEC.
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9,000
~-T~----'I----'--'---""'----.1,....----.--','..--------.
I
I
I
Mi;lrlette
lake
.
(1894! 1914-21, 1930-44, 194B-52) I
•
8,000 -
7,000 -
Jj
Jf
• f
"'...."
;::
II
--J
-0:
6,000
I
I
I
"
I
"
Little Valley
(1955-64)
-
~I
v~~
I
'R3.'(\qe.... ;
/
ca tSo " ... _
--.--L _ _ _~~~~~~~~~~-
.....
lowest altitude of mountains
0,000 I--
-
(1960-63)
I
Sf
I
~ _
•
Mt Rose
Highway St~tiQn
"
fi, f
----r
~,~
I
-! I
•
f-.
I"
~I
d?!
Virginia City
(1953-60)
:::J
-
I
I
ff
;:::
-,'.
I
I
I
I
I
I
I
I
I
w
"-
I
I
,I
....w
I
•
Lewers Rallcll
-
(1888-1915,1930-44)
•
CarsOIl City
(1875-76,1880-1906,1924-64)
,----"---,---.1...-'-----'
4,000 L-_.l' _ _ _..L, _ _ _-"--, _ _ _-"---
5
10
15
20
25
PREC'PITATION 'N, INCHES
Figure 5.-Relation of altitude to precipitation
30
35
Ground-','iater Recl.l..arge
Little precipitation directl:i infiltrates j.nto the ground-watsr reservoir
on the valley floor where precipitation is smaiL Greater precipitation in the
mountains provides most of the recharge. Water that reaches the ground-water
reservoir does so by seepage 10s5 from streams on the valley floor and by underflow from the consolidated rocks. Much precipitation is evaporated before and after
infiltration and some adds to soil moisture.
I
A method described by Eakin and others (1951, p. 79-81) is used to estimate
the potential recharge in this report. The method assumes that a percentage of the
average annual precipitation may recharge the ground-water reservoir. Because of
the large runoff from the Carson Range, the valley-fill reservoir in ma~v places
is saturated to or very near the land surface, especin.lly near where streams cross
the valley floor. Because of this, room for stream recharge is limited, not by the
small amount of precipitation as is the case in most of Nevada, but by limited local
storage space in the valley-fill reservoir. As a result, most of the computed groundwater recharge is rejected at the land surface; some may enter ground-water storage
for a very short period of time. Although a small part of this rejected water is
utilized for irrigation, most flows in the creeks to Washoe and Little Washoe Lak$s
as runoff.
I
)11,
--"
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I
Table 3 shows the values used to estimate precipitation and potential groundwater recharge in Washoe Valley. The estimated potential recharge of 15,000 acre·feet per year is about 17 percent of the estimated total precipitation. This
percentage is more than three times the amount u8uaJ.ly found by this method for the
desert basins of Nevada, and is accounted for by the unusually heavy· precipitation
in the Carson Range--one of the wettest areas in the State. As can be computed
from the table, nearly 90 percent of the estimatedpotenti,~l recharge is from the
Carson
Range~
I
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If
I
-13-
_.
- --- - - - - - - - - - - - ..". Table 3,=-Estimated average· annual. precipitation and
potential annual ground-water recharge
Precipitation zones
(altitude in feet)
: Area
: (acres)
Estimated annual precipi taUo_n
Average
Average
Range
(inches)
(feet)
(acre-feet)
Estimated potential recharge
from p.t.e.c.i_pitation
Percentage of
Acre-feet
precipitation
per year
-CARSON RANGE OF THE SIERRA NEVADA
9,000
8,000
7,000
6,000
5,200
-
9,700
9,000
8,000
7,000
6,000
800
4,930
5,320
7,750
5,100
·more
30
28
25
15
than 32
- 32
- 30
- 28
- 25
2.8
2.6
2.4
2.2
L7
2,200
13,000
13,000
17,000
8,700
25
11,000
20
1,700
I
f-' .'
Subtot~1
+I
(rounded)
23,900
54,000
13,000
VIRGINIA RANGE
7,000 - 7, SOD
6,000
7,000
5,200 - 6,000
Subtotal (rounded)
710
3; 700
7,140
15 - 20
12 - 15
L5
1.1
11,550
1,100
12,000
15
7
13 ,000
160
840
1,000
VAlLEY FLOOR
5,028 - 5,200
Total (rounded)
a.
al4,200'
49,650
12 - 15
1.1.
16,000
87,000
Excludes average area of Washoe and Little.Washoe.Lakes (4,000 acres).
directly. enters surface-water storage.
7
1,100
15,000
Precipitation on lake area
I
Runoff
by D.O. Moore and J. E. Parkes
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Most runoff in Washoe Valley is in Franktown and Ophir Creeks, both of which
drain the eastern slope of the Carson Range. A gaging station was maintained on
Franktown Creek during the years 1948-55, and its location is shown on plate 1. The
average annual discharge for the period was 10,060 acre-feet with water beil~ both
diverted to and from the stream above the gage (U.S. Geol. Survey, 1963). In 1964
periodic measurements of streamflow were made on several creeks in the valley. Tho.
measurements are shown in· table 4; the measuring sites on plate 1.
Surface-water inflow to the valley floor has been. estimated usinll a method
described by Eakin, Moore, and Everett (1965). and Riggs and Moore (1965). The
record for Franktown Creek was used as a guide for correlating the. flow in five of
the larger ungaged streams listed in table 4. An altitude-runoff relation developed
during the study of Statewide runoff (Lamke and Moore, 1965) also was used in this
study. Table 5 shows the estimated surface-water inflow to the valley floor.
'tt,·
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I
-15-
I
' .-W-
-~,
.
..
,
..
- - - - - .- - - - - - - ..... ;.
l
i
'I!! .'/
Table 4.--Streamflow measurements. 196411
[Stre~low
Stream
May 11, 12
McClellan Peak tributary
Jumbo Creek
I
in cubic feet per second]
June 18, 19
. E 0.12
Aug. 24
0
0
0
July. 23
--
0
,02
.05
.15
Sept. 21, 22
Nov. 23
0
E .075
Virginia Range tributary
(17/20-31d)
0
0
0
0
0
Virginia Range tributary
(17/20-30b)
0
0
0
0
0
Steamboat Creek
0
0
0
a
0
.15
.·0 .,
0
f-'
a-I
Unnamed creek at Washoe City
Winters Creek
Davis Creek
1.00
.06
1.28
.61
.28
.79
.36
.05
E
.03
Ophir Creek
15.0
Franktown Creek
20.6
.24
.49
.005
,03
.39
'4.26
5.04
1.69
1,27
1.56
2.80
.06
.04
,05
.43
.42
,54
.31
,06
.26
Big Canyon Creek
1.00
.054
Flow. values preceded by a'l Eo were es timated.
.33
3.02
.41
L
.12
2.27
1.00
.68
.02
4.42
13.1
Musgrcve Canyon Creek
McEwen Creek
a
,39
E
.08
0
~I
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I
I
I
..
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I
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·r
I
Table 5.--Estimated average annual
Areas
Acres
run~ii
Estimated runoff
Acre-feet
Percent of
per year
total runoff
Percelltage of
. runoff area
Carson Range
23,900
48
20,000
87
Virginia Range
11.550
23
1,500
7
a14,200
29
a 1,300
6
49.650
100
23,000
100
Valley floor
Total (rounded)
a,
Precipitation directly onto lake area 1s assumed to go entirely to lake. storage
and 1s not included.
-17-
I
Importation of Watsr
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I
Surface water is diverted into the valley from two areas of the Carson Range,
as shown on plate 1: the North Creek headwater area (a 2-square-mile ~rea northwest of Incl~ne Lake) and the Browns Creek-Galena Creek drainage area'~which adjoins Washoe Valley on the north). Diversions are made from North Creek to Ophir
Creek and from Galena and Drowns Creeks to Joy Lake and to Little Washoe Lake 'by
ditches. The anllllal diversions have not been measured,' but for the purposes of
this report the average annual diversion from North Creek, as based on available
j,nformation from water users, and George Hardman (oral communication), of the Nevada
Department of Conservation and Natural Resources may be on the order of 2,000 acre.. feet; diversion from Galena and Browns Creeks also may be on the order of 2,000
acre-feet per year. Therefore, the total estimated average annual importation of
surface water probably is about 4,000 acre-feet,. No ground water is imported into
the basin.
. .
Underflow
In Washoe Valley, no means are available to measUre directly the amount of
ground-water underflow moving from the consolidated rocks to the valley-fill
reservoir. The fracture and joint charactedstics of the consolidated rocks underlying the mountains suggest, that small amounts. of underflow do enter the valley-fill.
\iorts and Malmberg (1967) estimated an underflow of about 1,000 acre·-feet per year
for Eagle Valley. Because of the similarities in rock types and length of the
mountain fronts, the average annual underflow to the valley-fill reservoir is assumed
to be on the same order of magnitude, or about 1,000 acre-feet.
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-18-
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OUTFLOW, FROM THE VALLEY-FILL RESERVOIR
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The major components of outflow are evaporation from Washoe and Little
Washoe Lakes, evapotranspj,ration and stream diversions for irrigation. The'
estimat.ed average annual outflow is about,31,000 acre-feet per year (table 7).
Figure 7 is' a land-status map showing the maximum and average lake area,s,
phreatophyte areas, and irrigated and unirrigated lands of the valley floor.
Surface Water
Evaporation from Lakes
Evaporation from Washoe and Little Washoe Lakes is th~ largest element of
outflow in 'JJashoe Valley . . The estimate is based on rates determined by Kohler
and others (l959~ pI. 2) for the United States. According to their map, an
Hnnual average ol about 3.5 feet of water evaporates from free-water surfaces in
ilasnoe Valley. The volume of total evaporation fluctuates principally because
the lake size fluctuates. As estillk"ted in an earlier section, the average lake
ar~a is about 4,000 acres. Therefore, the estimated average annual evaporation
is about 11.,000 acre-feet.
Outflow from the Valley
In 1863 or 1864 a small wooden dam was .constructed on Steamboat Creek about
50 yards north of U. S. Highway 395, as sho;;n on plate 1. In 1889 i t was replaced
by a box-li.ke rock and concrete structure. The dam is used to regulat~ the flow
from Li.ttle Washoe Lake to .the creek. However, during years of low lake level,
wh~n la;{e lev"l5 ar:e below an altitude of 5,022 feet, water CHn not be diverted by
gravity from Little Washoe Lake. Downstreum water users report that during the
late part of the irrigation ·season for·a period of about 5 weeks, an average flow
of about 10 cfs is allowed to pass the dam for irrigation in Pleasant Valley and
. Truckee Headow5. The 5-week flow- reportedly averages about 600 acre--feet.
During periods of high lake level, as the spring of 1966 shown in figure 3,.
water flo;ved oVer the spillway. This unregulated overflow has not been measured,
but during years of high lake levels, it probably ranges up to a few thousand acre··
feet. During most ;)'ears there is no overflow. The estimated average annual overflo" is about 300 to 400 acre-feet. Therefore, the estimated total average annual
GUrfaCe-,later outflow from the valley is on the order of 1,000 acre-·feet per year •
. Diversions for Irrigation
In I"lashoe Valley, about 4,200 acres are irrigated; of this amount, about 600
acres is irrigated by water from \~ashoe Lake the remainder, about 3,600 acres,
by diversions from creeks and supplemental irrigation-i"sll purnpage ..
, Diversions from lakes.--As previously described, controlled releases from
Little Washoe Lake through Steamboat Creek are utilized for irrigation downstream
from Washoe Valley. In addition, water is pumped from Washoe Lake to irrigate
pasture and hay land. The water is pumped from a canal which has been cut southward
from the south shore of Washoe Lake in the Siv~ sec. 19, T. 16 N., R. 70 E., as shown
on plate 1. A pump lifts "-later from the canal to a ditch which carries water to the
-19-
--.,.. - - - - - - -1J - - - - --- .... Table
6,~~Estimated
average annual evapotranspiration of ground water
[Phreatophyte-areas shown in figure 7J
Phreatophyte
,
~~
Location
Area
(acres)
Depth to
water
(feet)
EvapotranspiiafioIi!!
Acre-feet Acre-feet
p_e.r. aqe Ll"!l.UIlQeJ!2
Chiefly swamp grass and
other vegetation
Area inundated during maximum
lake size and excluding
area of average lake size
1,500
0-2
2,5
3,800
Chiefly a mixture of meadowgrass, rabbi tbrush, and
big sage
Marginal to eastern lake
shore and area adjoining
Washoe City on east and
southeast as shown in
figure 7
1,600
2-10
1.0
1,600
Chiefly meadowgrass
Areas southeast of Franktown
and west of Washoe Lake
1,300
2-5
1.0
1,300
Various- hay crops
Most of the irrigated land
as shown in figure 7
3,500
2-5
.5
a 1,800
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Total (rounded)
8,500
1,
Includes nang rowing season losses 1n very shallow ground-water areas,
<\,
Natural subin:igation of crop lands by ground water in same areas where surface-water diversions
mld pUlUp"ge are used to irrigate crops. Usually oc~urs in late spring -and early summer when
w~ter levels are shallow.
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south',lest where it is used to irrigate about 600 acres in parts of sees. 19, 24,
25, and 30. The eotimated net pumpage is about 1,000 acre-feet per year.
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Diversions from c:ceeks .. --Diversions are made from I'1cE-tven, Big Canyon, Husgrove,
Franktown, Ophir, Davis, Winters, and Jumbo Creeks. The most complex diversions
are on Ophir Creek. From Ophir Creek, flow is diverted southward to Frankto,m
Greek at Upper Price Lake. About 2 miles farther down Ophir Creek, one of two
ditches extends northeast to Davis Greek, the other carries water to irrigate land
in secs.34 and 35, T. 17 N., R. 19 E. One-eighth mile farther do\"mstream a Jitch
carrj.es water to irrigate land in secs. 2 and 3, T. 16 N., R. 19 E. A 2~·-inch
diameter pipe also extends from the latter ditch to a nearby house for domestic use.
From Ophir Greek, about 100 feet east of U. S. Highway 395, water is diverted to
land in parts of the above-mentioned sections by two ditches. About half a mile
east of U. S. Highway 395 the last diversion on Ophir Creek is to two ditch"" for
flood irrigation in parts of N~, sec. 2, T. 16 N., R. 19 E. and sL sec. 35, 'r. 17 N.,
R. 19 E. Only the larger diversion dHcj1es are shown on plate 1.
Streamflow, supplemented by irrigation-,rell pumping, is used to irrieate about
3,600 acres of cropl.ind on the valley floor, as shown by figure 7. During the ir-rigation se"son, !flaY through September, about 1.5 acre-feet per acre is estimated to
be consumed. by the crops. This is a net fiGure and excludes the aJDount of water
used from pr-e(;ipitation and. by subi rrigat.ion of ground water (table 6). The averaGe
armual consumption from di_verted streamflow is estimated to be about 5,400 acre-feet
minus the well pumpage (p. 20), or about ",600 acre-feet. Hueh more water than this
is diverted, but most of it seeps to the water table or runs off the fields and reenters the creeks; in either case it is not being consumed by the crops.
Water Export
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Export of water by the State-owned J·!arlette Water System from Hobart Creek in
the hcadVlater area of FranktolVYl Creek and therefore from Washoe Valley, (p1. 1) for
public-supply purposes was about 600 acre-feet in 1964 and 575 acre-feet in 1965.
Of these totals, about 425 acre-feet went to Eagle Valle~'; the remainder to Virginia
City (I'iorts and Malmberg, 1967).
Ground Ihter
Ev~potranspiration
In shallow Grollnd-water areas, ground water is discharged by evapol'ation from
the soil and ·water USe by plants that root to the 1{ater table. Ple.nts that tap the
ground->later reservoir are called phreatophytes. In ~Iashoe Valley, figure 7 shows
that phreatophytes groi; along the eastern shore of vlashoe and Little [,{ashoe Lakes
and on most of the valley floor !;est of the lakGs. The prIncipal phreatophytGs are
sWlfnp veeetation, meadoi;grass, rabbit brush, and crops during perj.od ,'hen they n re
not irrigated and where their roots reach the water table. The 51'lamp area is that
area sholVYl in figure 7 as immdated during maximum lake stage but adjacent to the
l"ke area at average or 101'1 stages. Table 6 slllIll'lc,rizes the estimated evupotransj.'iration of ground ,,,ater from these areas. The rates used are based on wax·k done in
other areaS by Lee (1912), \'Ihite (1932), and Young and Blaney (1942).
-21~
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Irrigation by Wells
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As, indicated in the surface-water irrigation section, wells are pumped to
supplement diversions from creeks when flow is inadequate. This usually occurs
in the late summer. In 1965, five large-diameter ~rrigation wells (table 10)
were pumped, four of the wells are on the west side of Washoe Lake and one well
(16/2C-17ac) is on the southeast side of the lake. Well inventory indicates
that in 1964 and 1965, the gross pumpage averaged about 1,200 acre-feet per year,
and supplied supplemental water to about 1,800 acres. Of this amount, it is
assumed that about one-third percolated back to the water table or flowed from
the fields and returned to ditches. The remainder, about 800 acr'e-feet per year,
was consumed by crops.
Domestic and Stock Purapage
I
Ground 'lE.ter is pumped from wells for domestic and stock-watering use. No
consolidated water systems operate in the valley,. For a rural population of possibly
1,000 plus JOO to 1,000 head of dairy and range cattle the total water pumped probabl;)' did not exceed 300 acre-feet in 1965. Some of the water used to irrigate lawns
or floVIS to septic systems seeps downward and recharges the v,3.11ey-fill reservoir.
Therefore, the estimated net pumping draft on the valley-fill reservoir to meet these
needs was about 200 acre-feet.
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Springs
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[':any small springs are along the margin of the mountains, as shown on plats 1,
and issue from consolidated rocks. l'hey support small nearby areas of phreatophytes,
such as willow, cottonwood, and rabbitbrush, are diverted for irrigation, or secp
back to th" ,!ater table. The largest spring probably is at J.'.o'lers ~'laneion (16/l9-3ki,.
pl. 1); it reportedly flows a.bout 75 gpm of water at 128"1'. Fish Hatchery Spring
(l6!19-27a) has a reporte~ flo,,, of about 50 gplll; a.ll other springs are smaller. '111C
"stinllited combi,ned flow of the Bprings shown on pl!lte 1 is JOO acre-feet per yea!',
Because Gome of their flow seeps back to the water table, their not discharge is
estimated to be about 200 acre-feet per year.
<,
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Additional smaller springs, such as 16/19-23dc and lli/l~-26ab, are along the
.foot of thG Car.son Range of the Sierra Nevada, but their presence is masked by the
generally wet conditions caused by high runoff. Beciiuse discharge from these small"r
springs is utilized i,n irrigation and consumed by phreatophytes the u~e is included
in the discharge by these means.
Subsurface Out flo",
Subsurface outflolf to Pleasant Valley through the felf feet of alluvium in the
canyon 01' Steamboat Creek is minor. Because no springs were found issuing from the
consolidated rocks in Pleasant Valley on the north side of Iva shoe Hill, it is asswned
that subsurl'ace flow through them also is minor.
Eagle Valley to the south is about 400 feet lo",,,r than liashoe Valley. Although
the net head potential for southward outflow through the Virginia Range exists, the
water-level contours on figure 4 show northward movement of ground water rather than
any sDuth",ard flow. r-\oreover, the granitic rocks separating the tWo valleys (ahout 1
mile at the narrowest point at Lakevie", Summit) greatly reduce" the possibility of any
intervalley flow,
-22-
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WATER BUDGET FOR THE VALLEY-FILL RESERVOIR
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Over the long term and for native conditions inflow to and outflow from the
valley are equal. Accordingly, a water budget for native conditions expresses
the quantity of water flow in a hydrologic system under eqllilibriU1ll conditions.
The water budget generally is designed to bring together and compare the estimates
of inflow and outflow to determine the magnitude of error in the estimates. A
budget that balances reasonably well lends credence to the individual elements of
inflo'll and olltflow, whiCh are depended upon by those concerned with water development and management.
For Washoe Valley eqllilibriU1ll conditions existed up to the time that man
began to develop the area for mining and agriculture. Surface-water diversions
from the principal streams began about 100 years ago and have continued to date.
Diversions, importation, and exportation of water have modified the natural condi tion only to a ~mall extent. The principal changes have been the increase in
surface-,,,at8r storage in and evaporation losses from 'lashoe and Little Washoe Lakes
due to ttle construction of a small dam at their outlet, the importation of water,
and pumping of wells which may be decreasing slightly the amount of' ground water
in storage.
In previous secti.ons, various elements of inflOl" and outflow have been evaluated
for 1965 conditions and are summarized in table 7. Estimates of inflow and outflow
lack closure by only 2,000 acre-feet, or 6 percent, which may be caused by: (1)
llllidentified outflow elements, or (2) errors inherent in assumptions made in estimating various elements of the water budget, or both.
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-23-
Table 7.---\'later budget for 1965 conditions
(Most values estimated, as described in text)
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1965
conditions
( acre-feet
per year)
ESTIHI, TED INFLOW:
Runoff (table 5) • • . • . • . . • • • . . . • . • • •
Precipitation on lAkes (P.12) . . , . . . " 'I ' , , •
Surface-,later import from outside the basin--"" (P.l? )
Precipitation on vaHey floor (table 3) . . , .
Ground-\mter inflow across consolidated rockvalley-fill contact (p" l8 ) . . . . . . •
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Total
E~.>TmATED
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OUTFLOvl:
Evaporation from lake>; (P.;,,)
Outflow from valley (P. n) ,
Vi 'ferdons from lakes (p .J.9).
Di verGions i'rom ~z;eeks (P.n)
Export oi' water 9(p .-.1...
·c') "
11,,000
Subtotal (rounded)
21,000
1,000
1,000
4,600
600
Evapotranspiration (ta.ble 6). " .
Pwnpage for irrigation (p ,t:c) , ,
~om~sti c. and do ck pwnl?age (p .?~'.)
upr:tng dlscharge (p ./2) . . . . •
Subsurface outflO\-{ (p ..c.?) • . . .
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33,000
Ground ,;ott.er:
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4,000
4,000
1,100
Surface "later:
'-./
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(1)
23,000
Subtotal (roundee!)
200
200
minor
10,000
3J.,000
Total (2)
HlBALilNCE, excess of inflow over outflow (1) - (2)
1.
2.
8,500
000
From North, Browns, and Galena Greeks,
Through the Marlette ~vHter 3ystem.
-21,-
2,000
CHEMICAL QUALITY OF WATER
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As part of the present study, 31 water samples were field analyzed to make
a general appraisal of the suitability of the water for domestic and agricultural
use and to define the general chemical quality of the water. Sampling sites
were chosen to be representative of conditions throughout the valley. The field
analyses are listed in table 8. An additional five samples of surface water "ere
analyzed for specific conductance only. They are listed in table 9.
Samples were analyzed for the principal anions and cations, except sodium
and potassium, which were computed by difference. Boron, fluoride, iron, and
nitrate were not determined, although they are important ions affecting the suitability of water for irrigation and domestic use.
For agricultural use the surface and ground waters are medium to 10\1 in
salinity and alkalinit,~- I1M.erds and generally safe in residual sodium .. carbonate
(liSC), as classified by the Salinity Labcratoq (U.S. Departinent of Agriculture,
1954)" These are quality factors related to the suitability of water for irrigation.
Except. for unknown concentrations of minor constituents, such as fluoride,
iron, and nitrate, the surface and ground waters are mineralogically' suitable for
domestic use, as defined by the U. S. Public Health Service (1962). Iron is a
problem in some wells throughout the valley. Figure 8 shows the distribution of
hardness of ground water in the valley. The distribution of ground water by
specific conductance is shown in figure 9. Specific conductance is an approxi,mats
measure of the dissolved-mineral content of water. The relation may be defined as
(Specific conductance) XA
,
I
=
Dissolved solids
where specific cOEduntance is measured in micromhos at 25'C and dissolved solids
in parts per million (ppm). For 'dashce Valley, !:. probably nas a value between
0.55 ami 0.750
If any doubt.s exist as to the potability of a wat.er source, a.rrangements for
analysis should be made with the Nevada Department of Health.
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-25-
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N.
Consolidated
ro{:~s
Ei--~
Irrigated land
1~=::::'1
phreatophyk ;;I(e8
Uncon8olid;:l.t~c;I
deposits
Maximum lake area
Geologic contact
o
Figura 7.-Gencrali7.t:!d It:lnd-status of the" valley
I
Shoreline for
averaQe lake 8iz:~
2 MUes
~-==j
floo~,
April 1966
I
R. 20 1::.
R. 19 1:::.
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6',' HARD
'-
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,6
T.
N.
Consolidated roc.:k,,"
Unconsolidi.lh~~
deposits
EXPLANATION
Based on data listed
in tabli> 8
Mf.lxllYlum lake area
GeoloQic cont""c.:t
o
Figure 8.-Ground-water hardness, 1965
I
Shoreline for
1:Iverage lak~~ 8iz~~
2 Miles
'1
Table 9.--Specific conductance of selected surface·-water samples
I
Location
a
70
llad
4-10-66
\~a sho e
64
446
220a
5- 4-66
Musgrove Creek
63
146
17/1 9-24ba
4-10-66
Little Washoe Lake
65
3L,dc
5- 4-66
Ophir Creek
64
a,
Lake
a
374
46
This vslue is lower than those for other samples from Washoe' and Little
Washoe Lakes (this table and table 8) because lower-conductance water
was being diverted to Little Washoe Lake near the sampling site.
'II,
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~t
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Specific con(h,ct~n~e
(l1icr()ml1os at 2'i°t;;l
64
I
,
(OF)
Franktown Creek
I
.,
Temperature
'l- 1,.-66
16/19-3cc
I
Source
Date
-26-
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R.
::!()
E.
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T.
17
N.
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.,
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'1".
,6
N.
Ccul!l;olldated rocks
Unconsolid~t!Jd
deposits
Specffic conduct<lnce in
1IliL:~mr'dlO~
2S"C
EI~~cr~ on di:lt8 listed
In table
a ,mo 9
Shoreline for
Gr~ologil; con1~!;t
o
Figufe g.-GenerallzGd distribution of specific conductance Qf ground-wah:ir, 1965
ave-raa€! lake size:
2 Miles
!
SYSTEJIi YIELD
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-..)
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The yield of a hydrologic system has been defined as the maximum amount
of surface and ground water of suitable chemical quality that can be obtained
economically each year from sources within the system for an indefinite.period
of time (Worts and Malmberg, 1967). The system yield can not be more than the
infloW" to or outflow from .the system; it ttltimately is limited to the maximum
amount of surface-water, ground-water, and water-vapor outflow that can be
salvaged economtcally each year for beneficial use.
For Washoe Valley the predevelopment conditions of the hydrologtc system
have been modified by the following principal changes: (1) construction of a
dam at· the outlet of Little Washoe Lake, causing a substantial reduction of outflow in Steamboat Creek and tncreasing sttbstantially the average volumes and
areas of Washoe and Little Washoe Lakes; (2) tmport of streamflow from North,
Brown, and Galena Creeks; 0) export of streamflow through the Marlette Water
System; and (4) diversion of streamflow from streams and lakes to ftelds on the
valley floor. These changes in the nattve conditions have elisted for nearly
100 years and probably will continue for many years. Therefore, the following
esttmate of the system yield will be for the modified condHions as identified
above"
For 1965 conditions, diversions from lakes 'and creeks, pumpage, export of
water, and most of the outflow from the valley arB being put to beneficial Use-a total of about g,OOO acre-feet (table 7). The estimated average annual evapotranspiration (9,000 acre-feet) in areas of phreatophytes and evaporation from
Washoe and Little Washoe Lakes (14,000 acre-feet) constitute virtually all the
remaintng outflow--a total of about 23,000 acre-feet (table 7). By replacing most
of the phreatophytes with beneficial vegetation where land and soil condiHons
permit, but excludi.ng the 1,500 acres that is inundated between average and full
lake stage (table 6), about half, or roughly 4,000 acre-feet per year, probably
could be salvaged for benefiCial use.
Washoe and Little Washoe are becoming increasingly valuable for their recreational and wildlife-management (Scripps Wtldltfe Management Area) uses. The
problem of whether these uses are worth the large average evaporation losses, which
amount to nearly 50 percent of the total water crop, is beyond the scope of thts
study. However, under this arraneement of operaHng the lakes at medium to high
lake stage, the system yield· could be only about 15,000 acre-feet per year, i f the
evaporation losses on Washoe and Little Washoe Lakes. average as much as 14,000
acre-feet per year.
On the other hand, if irrigation or other large uses are considered more pertinent to the economy of the area, the lakes could be utilized as regulating
reservoirs from which .water could be withdrawn for Use in the surrounding areaS.
The 'cyclic range in lake stage, then, might be from dry or nearly dry' to medtum
levels, in which case the evaporation losses might average only 7,000 acre~[eet
per yea.r. Under such a plan of operation the system yield CQuld be as much as
25,000' acre-feet per year. Obviously, such a water use would have an adverse
effect on the 2,700-scre.wj,ldlife management area and on ftshing, boating, and
other recreational uses. Moreover, during part of the time, water would have to be
pumped into Steamboat Creek to meet present downstream irrigation rights.
I
Thus, this reconnaissance sUGgests that, depending upon how Washoe Valley is
developed and managed, the system yield ranges between 15,000 and 25,000 acre-feet
per year.
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FUTURE SUPPLY
For the past ·100 years Washoe Valley I s economy has been dominated by mining
and agriculture. However, in the fi·rst half of the present decade (1960-70) the
population of the valley has grown and an increased. amount of land transformed to
residential development. As· Carson City and Reno continue to grow in population,
Washoe Valley.may lose agricultural· importance and could become an important residential and recreational area. This transition will have an :lmportant effect on
the water use in the valley.
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Streamflow
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II
Most of· the streamflow is now utilized for agriculture. If irrigated land is
converted to residential development, water previously used for irr.tgation of cropland will become available for domestic, commercial, and recreational Use. The
streams of the Carson Range provide most of the inflol; to the valley floor and could
be developed further for public-supply systems.
Pumping from Wells
•
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Figure 2 shows large areas where the depth to water below land surfa.ce is less
than 5 feet. Such areas are considered waterlogged. Wells pumped in these areas
,,/ould lower the water table, salvaging much water now wasted by evapotranspiration
and makine.the areas more suitable for irrigation or residential development.
'.
The Lakes
With the continued expansion of recreational activity, perhaps one of the best
uses of the stored water in Washoe and Little l'iashoe Lakes would be for recreation.
The lake area has high potential for park development, fishing, hunting, and boating.
Its continued use as a wildlife-management area would also require that th" lakes be
maintained at medium to. high stages.
Because a strong interrelaU.on exists between ground and surface water in the
valley, the development of either will strongly affect the quantity and quali.ty of
the other. This consideration points up the need for long-range planning of residential and agricultUral development and the associated '..rater Use.
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WELL RECORDS
Location Numbering System
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a.
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The numbering system for wells and springs and other hydrologic sites in this
report is based on the rectangular subdivision of public lands, referenced to the
Mount Diablo base line and lJieridian. The number consists of three units: The
first is the township north of the base line; the second, separated from the first
by a slant, is the range east of the meridian; and the third, separated from the
second by a dash, designates the section number. The two letters following the
section number indicate the quarter-quarter section (I,O-acres); the letters a, b,
c, and d designate the northeast, northwest, southwest, and southeast quarters of
each subdivision of the section. A number following the final letter indicates that
more than one well ,laS located in the quarter-quarter section. For eXBJllple, well
16/19-3ba, assigned to a well at .l3ower' s Mansion, designates that the well is the
only well identified in the NE~NW~ sec. 3, T. 16 N., R.19 E., Hount Diable base
line and meridian.
Because of the limitation of space, wells and springs are indicated on plate
1'ownship and range
numbers are shown along the margins of the area on plate 1.
1 only by section number and quarter-·quarter section letters.
Selected "Data
A rough field inspection suggests that a total of 250 residences are i,n Washoe
Valley, each having a well and septic system. Table 10 inclwies information on
abo\lt 50 wells, which generally are representative of the depth and tn'e of the
other wells in the valley. Well locations are shown on plate 1; Drillers' logs
"for many wells are available. Table 11 includes 10 of these, selected to provide
areal and depth representation. Their locations also are shown on plate 1.
-30-
........
- ,.
_
...
..
..
...
-, ......
- W- - - -,,"
-
'
till
.
'
'"
'
.....,,{.
~·w
,J
Table 10.:c-Data of selected wells
Use: P, public supply; D, domestic; U, unused: I, irrigation; S, stock
State log number: Log number in the files' of the' State Engineer
"ell number'
Year
drilled
Owner or name
Depth
{feet)
Diameter
{in)
Use
Yield
(gpm) and
drawdown
{teet)
Water-level
. measurement
State
Depth_ . log
Date
:{i:eet) number
Altitude
{feet)
.
16/19-3ba
I
'"';
i-'
Bower's Mansion
6
P
10-11-65
11.if
10-11-65
29.13
3bc1
Charles A. Steen
1963
239
6
D
88/63
5,160
3bc2
Do.
1963
996
6,4
U
'.
5,160
3cd
R. Raymond
1959
475
14
I
10aa
R. Raymond
1950
138
6
4100/56
U
6990
4-20-66 Flowing
50 gpm
4820
5,035
10-11-65 Flowing
10 gpm
1466
lOad
(Unknown)
4
U
5,040
10-11-65 Flowing
5 gpm
10bal
Robison Realty
6
U
5,055
10-11-65
4.43
10ba2
F1ying, "ME" Ranch
12
U
5,055
10-11-65
8.56
10cb
(Unknown)
14
1
llee
(Unknown)
3
U
l4be
A. H. Cliff
162
6
S
14cd
F. Crouse
90
6
D
1960
,
6989
5,050
'-
d
~--,
5,080
5,100
300/75
5,035
10-11-65 Flowing
5,045
10 ...11-65 Flowing
3 gpm
5,050
10-12-65
7.30
5048
,"
- , .. - - -.- - - " - - - - - - ...-' _'i~.~
Table 10.--Data of selected wells--continued
Well number
16/19-15bc
15bd
15ca
16da
,
''-''
Year
drilled
Depth
(feet)
Diameter
(in)
A. H. Cliff
1950
131
6
Do.
1962
500
14
Owner or name
D
30
5,160
7-14-50
I
1200/140
5,060
10-11-65
450
14
U
1949
115
6
D
1952
235
6
D,S
6
D
622
590
122
10
I
8
D
130
6
U
70
6
D
James Lathrop
Do.
Use
Yield
(gpm) and
drawdown
(feet)
Altitude
(feet)
lolater-level
measurement
Depth
(feet)
Date
4
Flowing
10 gpm
8310
5,085
10-11-65
9.87
3/56
5,200
4-29~49
4.10
881
18/25
5,190
10- 6-65
1.23
2051
5,200
10- 6-65
Flowing
0.5 gpm
5,200
5,150
5,200
10- 6-65
1.31
5,180
10- 5-65
26.96
5,040
10- 5-65
10.53
16dd
R. G. Miller
Washoe Pine Ranch
21ad
Henry Heidenreich
22bd
22da
22dc
Ligh tning
Do.
Do.
23cc
(Unknown)
23db
Claude Hansen
25ba
Frank List (windmill)
100
6
S
5,060
10-13-65 + 0.9
26ab
(Unknown)
130
8
D
5,170
10-13-65 . 19.72
26dc
Hugh Shamberger
1960
156
8
D
5,160
10-13-65
14.87
6049
26dd
Jerry Freeman
1961
84
6
D
5,060
10-13-65
FlOWing
6571
,,>
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1
State
log
nUmber
"w" Ranch
1963
1965
1964
1962
~.
800/145
(untested)
25
20/30
30
7306
7617
6762
_i
-,
...
-'_.
T"-'
.. --- - IIIIIi
~
"
"
-~,
.
TaL Ie 10.--Data of selected we11s--continued
Well number
l6/19-35ab
35db
36bb
36be
16/20-5ae
I
w
o.mer or name
Diameter
(in)
Use
6
S
6
D
8
D
170
10
D
80
8
D
242
6
D
83
6
D
83
6
D
87
6
Year
Depth
drilled (feet)
List Ranch
R. A. Petty
J. Savage
--Construction Co.
Cecil Laird
1964
Mrs. C. Ma10ff
Sec
Hr. Williams
6aa
Ed. Heidenreich
6ab
Robert Kobman
6ba
M. Stecker
6ca
L. Warner
6dd
Ruth Mi tebe1
17ae
John Whitehead and
Henry Heidenreich
17da
Mrs
1954
17/19-23ad
23d
t
1964
1957
5,250
11-30-63
33
8187
5,170
7-19-59
3
5043
5,150
10-13-65
5,075
5- 3-54
5,085
10-13-65
5,080
4-30-64
46
D
5,055
1-13-66
10.87
6
D
5,045
1-13-66
Flowing
0.5 gpm
66
6
D
5,070
1-13-66
22.25
225
14
I
5,060
10-13-65
13,43
10
U
5,120
1-13-66
55.79
6
D
5,075
10-13-65
12.46
6
D
5,070
10-13-65
5.20
155
James Greil
R< Edelen
J < ". Giles
State
log
number
10-13-65
w
I
Altitude
(feet)
Water-level
measurement
Depth
(feet)
Date
5,180
1965
1960
Yield
(gpm) , and
drawdown
(feet)
70
9/72
.10
5,070
20/77
20
32
2000/55
49.60
I
2681
39.34
7851
4028
..
- -.- - - - - - " - - - - - - ... ,
Table 10.--Data of selected wells--continued
Owner or name
Well number
17/l9-23dc
Bill Payne
Year
drilled
1958
Depth
(feet)
76
Diameter
(in)
Use
6
D
Yield
(gpm) and
drawdown
(feet)
IS/50
Water-level
Date
Depth
(feet)
State
log
number
10-11-65
19.36
4336
5,040
10-13-65
12.69
measurement
Altitude
(feet)
5,080
-~
,
I
\..u
,-
24bc
N. Walthers
25ad
Robert Price
1964
26aa
James Ross
1959
34aa
Richard R. Hood
34da
E. M. Gibbs
6
0
92
6
D
5/80
5,075
10-11-65
39.89
8232
120
6
D
20/58
5,050
10-11-65
Flowing
1.5 gpm
4754
6
D
5,075
10-13-65
16.26
6
D
5,085
10-13-65
16.87
(Unknown)
6
U
5,065
10-11-65
27.29
31ac1
James S. Tyzbir
6
D
5,080
1-13-66
34.33
31ac2
Don Penrod
6
D
31ba
(Unknown)
6
U
5,070
1-13-66
13.06
3lda
L.
6
D
5.130
1-13-66
85.86
l7/20-30cc
Burlin~ham
1963
1964
63
317
13/9
5,100
8063
7766
I
Table ll.--Drillers' logs of selected wells
ThickThickness
Depth
ness
Depth
________~Ma~t~e~r~i~a~l~________~(f~e~e~t~)+_-(~f~e~e~t~)__________~M~la~t~8~r~i~al~__________~(~f~ee~t~,)L_~(~feet)
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16!19-15bd
Topsoil
Soil, sandy
Sand and
I~ra vel
Clay, sandy, blue
l6!19-26dc
5
5
37
42
218
140
Clay, blue
:;0
Sand, gravel, and boulder-"
50
400
500
Sand
h3
43
Clay, yellow
75
Rock, red
5
Sand, hard
4
Rock, red
55
1:39
Gravel, fine, red and gray
13
152
J
153
Rock
80
1;6
Rock, broken
Sand
5
5
Gra.vel, pea
5
10
16/19-35db
80
90
Topsoil
Sand, cemented
Basalt and granite
(decomposed? )
1
Rock, brittle, broken
110
"
200
Rock, weathered, sclid
Granite (decomposed?)
120
320
80
400
Rock, broken
Basalt, hard (decomposed?)
Basalt and shell granite
(dec()mpo sed?)
6
6
12
9
Rock, brown, weathered
29
o
21
,
100
500
Clay, sandy, hard, gray
Sand
50
550
Sandstone, weathered, gray
Clay streaks and hard sand
15
565
Rock, hard, gra;,'
9
76
Basalt and granite
57
622
Rock, black, water-bearing
9
85
Rock, gray-green, broken
22
107
Rock, black, broken
12
H9
Rock, hard, gray, water-bee.ring }6
I;')
-35-
11
I
~'~-
'::.:",
t:i/,>
Hater,ial
'I.
,
6
6
Topsoil
2
Sand and clay
14
20
Clay and sand
22
24
Clay
25
45
Sand
J
27
Sand
J
48
Clay
19
46
Clay and rock (weathered?)
20
68
Sand, water-bearing
JO
76
Rock (weathered?)
12
80
Clay and rock
20
100
Rock
5
5
70
170
Sand, coarse, hard
25
30
Sand, fine, and clay
15
45
1:zL12-22ad
Old well
90
90
Clay, sandy
23
68
Sand, water-beal"ing
30
120
Sand, coarse
20
88
Clay, sandy
80
200
Clay and gravel
4
92
Sand
42
21,2
Topsoil
4
4
'
l'ZL20-1lac2
16/20-1:Zac
Soil, sandy
12
12
Sand, white, silty
6
10
Sand, fine
18
JO
Clay, yellow, silty
20
JO
8
38
Sand and s11t
5
35
Sand, COarBe
22
60
Granite, decomposed
55
90
Gravel and boulders
15
7.5
Granite rock, solid and
fractured
139
Clay, sandy
229
45
120
Granite, weathered and clay
Clay, yellow
236
165
7
45
Sand and some clay
Sand and pea gravel
2
238
35
200
20
Granite, decomposed
258
25
225
6
264
50
314
3
317
Granj,te, decomposed
Granite, hard
Granite, decomposed
I
Depth
(feet)
2
Gravel
"
Thiokness
(teet)
17119-23dC
J.6L20-Scc
"I
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I,
Material
Sand
I
:
Depth
(feet)
16/19-36bc
Topsoil
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Thicl<ness
(feetl
SaIld~
-]6-
clean; water-bearj,ng
I
:a
n--
:
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I
·tt
I
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-,
I
REFERENCES CITED
Eakin, To E., Moore, Do 0., and Everett, D. E., 196.5, Water-resources appraisal of
of the upper Reese River valley, La,nder and Ny" Counties, Nevada: Nevada Dept.
Conserv. and Na.t. Resources, Water Resources Reconn. Ser., Rept. 31, 49 p.
Eakin, T, E., and others, 1951, Contributions to the hydrology of eastern Nevada:
Nevada State Engineer, Water Resources Bull. 12, 171 p.
Fennernan, N. M., 1931, Physiography of western United States:
Book Co., Inc., j34 p.
New York, McGraw-Hill
Hardman, George, 1936, Nevada precipitation and acreage .. of land by rainfall zones:
Nevada Univ. Agr. Expt. Sta. Mimeo. Rept. and Map, 10 p.
Kohler, M. A., Norctenson, T. J., and Baker, D. R., 1959, Evaporation maps of the
United States: U.S. Weather Bureau Tech. Paper No. 37, 13 p.
Lamke, R. D., and Moore, D.O., 1965, Interim inventory of surface-water resources
of Nevada: Nevada Dept. Conserv. and Nat. Resources, Water Resources Bull.
30, 39 p.
Lee, C" H., 1912, An intensive study of th" water resources of a part of Owens Valley,
California: U. S. Geol. Survey Water-Supply Paper 294, 135 p.
Moore, J. G., 1961, Preliminary 8eol08ic map of Lyon, Douglas, Ormsby, and part of
Washoe Counties, Nevada: U. S. Geol. Survey Mineral Inv. Field Studies Map
MF-80.
Riggs, H. C'" and ~!oore, D.O., 1965, A method of esUmaUng mean runoff from ungaged
basins in mountainous regions: U.S. Geol. Survey Prof. Paper 525-D, p. D199-D202.
Thiem, Gunther, 1906, Hydrologische Methoden:
Leipsiz, J. M, Gephardt.
Thompson, G. S., 1956, Geology of the Virginia City quadrangle, Nevada:
Survey Hul1. 1042-C, p. 45-77.
Thompson, G. A., and White, D. E"
area, Washoe County, Nevada:
U. S. Geol.
1964, Regional geology of the Steamboat Springs
U. S. Geol. Survey Prof. Paper 458-A, 52 p.
U. S. Department of Agriculture, 1954, Diagnosis and improvement of saline and
alkaline soils: Agricultural Handbook No. 60, 160 p.
U. S. Geological Sllrvey, 1963, The Great Basin, Part 10, in Compilation of records
of 'surface water of the United States, October 1950 to September 1960: U. S.
Geol. Sllrve;y Water-Supply Paper 1734, 318 p.
U. So Public Health Service, 1962, Public Health Senice drinking water standal'ds
1962: Public Health Service Pub. No. 956, 61 p.
White, 1'1'. N., 1932, A method of estimating grollnd-water supplies based on discharge
by plants and evaporation from soil: U. S. Geol. Survey Water-Supply Paper
659-A, p. 1-105.
-37-
I
I.'"
'.
~
'-~
~.~
I
I
I
Worts, Go F., Jr., and Malmberg, G. T., 1967, Hydrologic appraisal of Ea.gle Valley,
Ormsby County, Nevada: Nevada Dept. Conserv. and Nat. Resources, Water
Resources .,- Reconn._ :>er., Rep. J9 , .55 p.
Young, A. A" and Blaney, H. F., 1942, Use of water by native veGetation;
Dept. Public Works, Div. Wa.ter Resources BulL 50, 154 p.
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~alifornia
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LIST OF PREVIOUSLY PUBLISHED REPORTS IN THIS SERIES
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Report
No.
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
Valley
Newark (out of print)
Pine (out of print)
Long (out of print)
Pine Forest
Imlay a.rea (out of print)
Diamond (out of print)
Desert
Independence
Gabbs
Sarcobatus and Oasis
Hualapai Flat
Ralston and stone cabin
Cave
Amargosa
Long
Surpri.se
Coleman
Nassac.re Lake
GutJ,IlO
1I0sQuUo
Boulder
Dry Lake and Delamar
Duck Lake
Garden and Coal
Ydddle Reese and Antelope
Black Rock Desert
Granite Basin
High Rock Lake
Swnmit Lake
Pahranagat and Pahroc
Pueblo
Conti.nental Lake
Virgin
Gridley Lake
Dixie
Stingaree
Fairview
Pleasant
Eastgate
Cowkick
Lake
Jersey
Report
No.
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
37
38
39
40
-39-
Valley
Coyote Spring
Kane Spring
Muddy River Springs
Edwards Creek
Lower Meadow
Patterson
Spring (near Panaca) Panaca
Eagle
Clover
Dry
Smith Creek and lone
Grass (near Winn~ucca)
Monitor, Antelope, and Kobeh
Upper Reese
Lovelock
Spring (near Ely) (out of print)
Snake
Hamlin
Antelope
Pleasant
Ferguson Desert (out of print)
Huntington
Dixie Flat
Whitesage Flat (out of print)
Eldorado - Piute Valley
(Nevada and California)
Grass and Carico Lake
(Lander and Eureka Co.)
Hot Creek
Lit tle Smoky
Little Fish Lake
Eagle (Ormsby Co.)
Walker Lake
Rawhide Flats
Whisky Flat
...•
,
...
r
!!
~.-.r:
.'i
DEPARTMENT OF CONSERVATION A ND NATURAL RESOURCES
ST ATE OF NE VA DA
UNITED STATES D EPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
GEOLOGICAL SURVEY
1.',0 .... 1
TO RENO
R. 19 E.
'11"55'
R. 20 E.
T.
17
T.
N.
17
N.
WllDLIF~6
i
,'01' >-
'"
-.J
-.J
I
I
,,'
II
•
~
AREA
Q,a
3ed
j
QY8 j
Jp.d
SQ.~
~',
8
T.
16
T.
16
N.
WASHOE L AKE
N.
R. 20 E.
EXPLANATION
Unco nsolidated deposits
Drainage divid e
G
TO CARSON CITY
Younger allu vium
Contact,approxlmately located
T
Fault
Downthrow n side Indicated by ball
>0:
Land slid e depo si ts
..:
z
A
Gaging staUon
0:
w
I-
110°55'
T.
15
N.
T.
15
N.
..:
::J
o
w
Z
w
U
Gl ac ial deposits
'"
St ream meas uring site
o
I-
26ab
o
If)
W
Well
-'
a.
,
Older alluvium
Spring
Consoli dated roc ks
R. 18 E.
R 19 E.
Dam
Volcani c ro cks
}!
Shoreline for av erage lake siz e
If)
Gran iti c rocks
}I
D
u
G:J
Metamo rphic roc ks }
Max imum lake area
O-
~~
,5
o
2
Scal e In Miles
I-
Hydrogeology by F. E. Rush, 1966; Geology ada pted from Thompson
an d While (1964). Moore (1961). an d Thompson (1951)
Base: U .S. Geolo gical Su rvey 1 :62.500 topographic
quadrang les; Mt Ro se, Virginia Clly,Carson Clty,and Dayton
PLATE 1,-GENERALIZED HYDROGEOLOGIC MAP OF WASHOE VALLEY, WASHOE COUNTY, NEVADA